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DIARY 



OF 



Verse and Philosophy 






BY 



JOHN ALBERT LEHMANN 



DIARY 



OF 



VERSE AND PHILOSOPHY 



BY 
JOHN ALBERT LEHMANN 



A budget of kernels and shells 
(mostly shells) put in this con- 
venient form for preservation. 



Press of The Evangelical Association, Cleveland, Ohio. 



\AVO 



COPYRIGHT— 1906 and 1910 
BT 

John Albert Lehmann 
savannah. ohio 



'CLA261014 



TO MY MOTHER 



T^OWN in the dusty city, where, 

^"^ To take full breath oft makes one choke, 

The composition of the air 

Is mostly wind— well mixed with smoke. 

Yet there's the song of industry 

In humming wheels the smoke commands; 
And employment, doubtless, plenty 

For some odd thousand busy hands. 

And there's hotels an' stores an' 'cops' 
An' organ-grinders — all in sight; 

With 'quacks' an' 'fakirs' gath'ring crops — 
An' operas an' shows at night. 

And elevators reaching 'fields' 
That lands appraisers seldom see; 

Where thrift}^ brokers 'turn' good yields 
On other people's property. 

And heavenward pointing church spires 
An' liquor shops of lesser worth; 

With railway tracks an' 'lectric Avires 
Like shackling bands about the earth. 

Oh! backward hie me to the farm 

Where nature's wealth in beauty glows; 

And hearts beat lighter, for it's charm, 
And music from the forest flows. 



IN JOLLY WINTERS LONG AGO. 

In jolly winters long ago — 
Keepin' the fire-place all aglow— 
Ole gronn' hog sleepin' snug an' tight — 
The windows thicker every night — 
Wasn't I glad when the cold spells broke. 
Choppin' the fork-sticks, elm an' oak. 
An' luggin' em in through the snow 
In jolly winters long ago? 

In jolly winters long ago — 

'Twas colder then, than now you know — 

Follerin' rabbits, when they'd run, 

Twixt chores an' school time, was but fun; 

While splittin' rails out in the storm 

Jist merely kep' a feller warm — 

Fried mush an' pork— I loved 'em so 

In jolly winters long ago. 

Around the fire-place all aglow — 
Mother an' Pap an' me and Joe — 
Plain as day I kin see us all, 
Our shadows, too, agin the wall; 
Mother patchin' a round-about — 
Pap, a shavin' an ax-helve out — 
Hickemuts, apples — all the go 
In jolly winters long ago. 

Around the fire-place all aglow — 
Tellin' the tales we used to know — 
Searchin' memories of the past 
Though tears the while be fallin' fast — 
Singin' the songs we loved to hear, 
Songs of sorrow an' songs of cheer — 
Singin' 'em soft, singin' 'em low 
In jolly winters long ago. 

5 



A little tact, with courage pure, 
In tense affairs of life, 
Will oft win fortune's cause secure 
'Gainst wealth of arms in strife. 



T 



A'CT is genius; tact is power; 
Cultivate tact for every hour. 



PLAIN common-sense is the best law of the land; 
morally, socially, industrially, commercially and 
politically. 



OUT by the mountain, wild and bare, 
I'll build my humble cottage; where, 
Among the foothills, I will keep 
And tend my flocks of kine and sheep. 
When winter falls and blizzards ride 
Before the mountain's rock-ribbed side. 
Then in the vale from storm and cold 
My flocks of kine and sheep I'll fold. 



D 



O right, and deal with your neighbor so as to 
make it easy for him to do right. 



THE Golden Bule has a good record. It never took 
any one to penitentiary, nor broke a friendship, 
nor caused a suit at law. It is the substance of charity — 
a gem of prosperity. 



•np HERE'S th' clackin' about th' barn of th' ^ineas 
an' th' hens, 

An' th' swallers busy buildin' from th' morn till day- 
light ends. 

There's the snicker o' th' squirrels an' th' cooin' o' 
th' doves, 

An' th' mimic o' th' thrushes 'at a feller always loves. 

Then there's th' flowers in th' yard,— the blossoms on 
th' trees. 

The warble o' th' robins an' the hummin' o' th' bees— 

An' th' lilacs in th' garden overflowin' with perfume 

When the white oaks come in tossel an' th' dogwoods 
are in bloom. 

* * * * 

A H! there's no music in th' worl' 

Bids more health an ' pleasure to yer 
Than th' snicker o' th' squirrel 
An' th' rooster's halleluyar. 

'w 'tF 'w tF 

^/'^LOTHES don't make the man' nor do the feathers 
^^^ make the goose ; but a neat clean raiment speaks 
well for a goosa— always. 

* * * * 

THE greatest thing a boy can be is a gentleman; 
always and everywhere, a gentleman. 
The greatest thing he can become is a manly man — 
a gentleman. 

7 



IVILIZATION is measured by the way people live, 
and the maimer in which they do things. 



« * # # 



I wish I was a little feller, 
Chuck full of childish glee — 
Out 'mongst the posies, white and yeller, 
The way I used to be. 

The stone-bruised heel, the thistles and thorns— 

I'd swap them back again. 

For the aching bunions and the corns 

I never dreamed of then. 

* * # * 

CREDIT is like a coat ; the less you use it, the longer 
it will la^t. 

« « * * 

TO know a little that is true, is better than to know 
much that is untrue. 

* * * # 

UPON the unstained canvas the artist sees portrayed 
the picture which is painted upon the walls of 
his heart. 



•^ ^F vr tF 



HE who is wise and honorable — he is safe; follow 
him. 
He who is wise and dishonorable — he is a deceiver; 
shun him; lest he drag thee into the ditch. 

8 



O TIC CESS is the flower of greatness. 

Greatness is not measured by ability but by service. 

Service is not measured by quantity nor amount, 
but by its character and quality. The character and 
quality of your service will be marked and measured 
by your energy, genius and purpose ; supported by your 
knowledge, training and discipline, together with what 
of courage, fidelity and love you may be able to put in- 
to it. 

He is greatest who renders greatest service. 






'T^ HE most valuable element in human character is 
courage; supporting all integrity of purpose as 
well as power of execution. 

Courage is a builder — an architect strong. 

Courage is a fortress protecting 'gainst wrong. 

Courage surrounds duty with pleasure and song. 



# # # « 



D 



IVERSITY of occupation is restful to both body 
and mind. 



# # # # 



T7LATTERY is neither polite nor courteous; but is 
frequently emploj^ed to shadow a bit of deception, 
or in paving the way to the hearts of weak people. 

9 



TTEALTH is the most valuable and important con- 
sideration in life; all else of worth depends upon 
it. The law is the way. Nature is the only true builder. 
Exercise, good food and fresh air are the best and only- 
true tonics. Keep away from quacks; their fortune is 
your misfortune. The scientific thing about them is, 
not that they are able to, or intend to help you, but 
that they are able to make you think so ; and they will 
follow you in that way to life 's limit ; then turn the 
tongues of hades upon you — to defend themselves and 
their nefarious business. Be not deceived; they are the 
same chaps they were nineteen hundred years ago; and 
will probably continue on, so long as people are willing 
to pay for being humbugged. There are a few wise 
and honorable physicians of great value to their clients ; 
but the per cent is so small that medicine has become 
a business rather than a profession; attested not only 
by records in practice but by claims and appeals wher- 
ever printer's ink will admit them. 



T EARN the law ; you will travel this way but once ; 
"^^ don't be in a hurry— take plenty of time; the 
journey is short at best. 



* * * « 



H 



EALTH is wealth and happiness. 

10 



THINK not ill of good intent; 
But count the time better spent 
Gleaning kernels from the chaff — 
'Twill lighten care— fully half. 



# * 



OCCUPATION is essential to health and happiness; 
we may exist, but we can not live, grow and be 

happy in idleness. 

# # * * 

HONOR the hei'oes, who, in the morning of light, 
In defense of our country, went forth in their 
might ; 
Cheers for the living, and tears for the dead— alway, 
And flowers for them all on Memorial Day. 

tF ^«* tF ^F 

WE can claim no valid account, against the world, 
until we have done something to place the 
world under obligation to us. 

The world owes no man a living until after he has 
earned it. 

tF H? ^ V 

TT^IND your place; get in earnest about it; be in- 
-*- dustrious; be honest; be kind; learn your ca- 
pacity; don't over-reach; keep within the realm of the 
law, and you will succeed. 

* * * * 



A 



big dust is no sif of a fast horse. 



* * 



TF you wish to know why some people succeed just 
-■- follow them, in their daily routine of work and care, 
for six months. 

11 



TXriSDOM is the fruit of experience. They, who 
think they are wise, are frequently otherwise ; 
and they, who are wise, are vigilant— Xq^X they become 
otherwise. 



# # 



WT E 'RE always glad when March is through 

And April's had a week or two; 
Though we most know, when April's come, 
There'll yet be snow to fool us some. 
One day it's bright— the birds all sing 
And signs look right for early spring; 
It rains next day — and then it snows, 
And that's the way that April goes. 



TJ EAD a few biographies of great men; also a few 

good books — the best books by great writers; 

read them welly and you will grow just as you are able 

to weave their character, strength and power into your 

life. 

# # # # 

"Pennies we save are pennies earned; 

Pennies we waste are pennies burned. 
Time well employed is gold indeed; 
"While time we waste brings want and need. 



E 



* * * * 
CONOMY is time and money wisely spent. 

12 



I 



T seldom pays to quarrel with enemies or get too 
thick with friends. 






H 



Aleedle boy — a bumblebee — 
He shouts with joy the bee to see 
And longs to get, from where he stands, 
The pretty pet within his hands. 
A sudden sting — he cries and screams 
* ' The buzzing thing aint what it seems. ' ' 
His nose and ears are bound in slings — 
He dreams he hears the buzzing wings — 
And now the lad, 'tis plain to see, 
Don't wish he had the bumblebee. 



ONEST enemies are oft better than designing 

friends. 

Hf * m m 

TEACH your children the way of right 
In all they do and say ; 
To walk in paths of honor, bright, 
And walk yourself that way. 



T 



HE logical end of cheapness is nothing. Things, 
that amount to something, usually cost something. 

# * # # 

THE beautiful forget-me-not 
Doth bear, on wings of love, 
A draught of sweet and pleasant thought 
Fresh from heaven above. 

13 



WISE is he, and prosperous, who may be able, al- 
ways, to say and to do the right thing at the 
right time; and to refrain from saying or doing the 
wrong thing at any time. 






F 



IRST a purpose, then a plan, 
Orders well far any man. 






T 



stand and to wait is to live without aim; 
To act and to do leads to fortune and fame. 



PLUCK is the advance agent of success. Never trust 
to luck; those who have tried it are mostly in 
alms-houses, asylums and penitentiaries. Trust to 
pluck; it wins. Luck is a tramp; it never works except 
on the down-grade ; it will never take you up hill. 



FEBRUARY MUSINGS. 

The way that Winter's courtin' Spring, 
Fools a feller like everything. 
'Pears ole Jack Frost is weak'nin' fer 
His nerves aint stiddy like they were; 
An' seems he's leavin', here of late. 
The season's fortunes more to fate. 

One day, it's calm; the next, 'twill storm — 
Then change right back from cold to warm; 
Stay nice, perhaps, a day er so 
Then cooly turn to rain er snow. 

14 



Sich treach'rous weather anyhow! 

Jist knocks me out, like ' ' grippe, ' ' somehow ; 

Ain' 111 rejoice when Winter's by, 

The sweet Spring here— An' roads is dry — 

Fer I'm disgusted wadin' through 

The mud an' slush an' — blizzards too. 

Yit, withal, I'm feelin' gladder 
Since the groundhog missed his shadder; 
Fer when Winter's blasts is over 
An' the groundhog's in the clover. 
There'll be the trees all dressed in green 
Like the meadow's emerald sheen— 
The flowers, too, will be in bloom 
Fillin' the air with sweet perfume — 
There'll be the hummin' of the bees 
Among the blossoms on the trees — 
While the birds will be a singin' 
Till the woods with music's ringin' — 
Oh, then's the time 'at suits me best; 
When the green is in the forest. 

* * * * 

TJROMPTNESS and thoroughness, with system in 
every affair of life, will bring a rich reward. 

TT ^r *S» -T? 

^ I ^HE greatest thing a girl can be is a lady; always 
and everywhere, a lady-like lady. 
The greatest thing she can become is a womanly 
woman. 

15 



BUILDIN' cabins and tradin' posts wasn't uncom- 
mon in 'twenty-eight,' 

In Ohio's wooded north and west, where things then 
were crude in state. 

When and where the early woodmen had come to build 
and help build, too; 

With purpose, nobly fraught with courage, and hearts 
that were brave and true. 

And while it takes a bit of courage and of enterprise 
to draw 

A man out into the forest where the country is new 
and raw. 

Yet, withal, 'tis life inviting, loving nature, as one 
should. 

With heart and soul unfettered free — no caste but 
human brotherhood. 



* # # 



^Tp ROUBLES, griefs and misfortunes have their value 

in rounding out the better elements in human 

nature and preparing the soul for its nobler inspirations. 



# # 



T 



O MILES from a kindly heart and face, 

With purpose nobly true. 
Will oft accomplish in life's race 
What science fails to do. 

TT W ^T 

HE goal of friendship is love; and the end of love 
is happiness. 

16 



TXT" EAVE into your life a kindly, noble sentiment ; 
it will oft serve you better than a truth in 
science. 

* # » * 

npHE sapling poles I used to climb, 

Where white oaks touched the sky, 
And somersault, to while the time. 
In happy days gone by. 

Of every bird I knew the song; 

Each moth and butterfly 
And bug and bee that buzzed along 

I knew, those days gone by. 

Snowballs were good as apples now, — 

And haymows, twice as high; 
And flowers like little friends, somehow. 

In jolly days gone by. 

I'd like, once more, to trip again 

O'er fields I used to ply; 
With all things big and good as then— 

In those sweet days gone by. 



H 



"fr 'fp '^ rff 

APPINESS is the child of contentment. 



« # # * 



M 



USIC is the laughter of the soul's happiest in- 
spirations. 

17 



TTDUCATION is training, discipline, government; it 
"^^ is growth ; it is development ; it multiplies power ; 
it pays. 

You may get it in college or in the world's greater 
university of business and experience; or both. 

Men are a commodity; the world is their market; 
*'What can you do and how much are you worth?" is 
the "yard-stick" by which you are measured. 

Whether on the battlefield, in the athletic park, in 
the professions or on the platform, or in any field of 
art, industry or commerce; a trained man is always 
worth more than a raw recruit. 

There is also, in education, a still greater value 
unyielding to commercial measurements; accruing to 
the individual not in dollars and cents but in an added 
strength of vision; before which material standards 
fade into higher and truer conceptions of life in all its 
relations. He is led into avenues and planes of thought 
above the realm of gold. The world, to him, becomes 
larger and broader and more interesting and beautiful; 
and all the worth of life enhanced in like proportion. 

# # # # 

/^^ HEERFUL, hopeful people are busy working peo- 
^^^ pie; and busy working people are successful 
happy people. 

# # # 4: 

TTE, who has learned to do something, and to do 
that something well, need never want for em- 
ployment 

18 



^T^ ROUBLE prepares the soul for its noblest inspir- 
ations. 

* * * * 

DON'T WORRY. 

Remember the burdens, cares and toils of life's day, 
Like the storms of noontime, before eve pass away; 
And though clouds of disappointment life's pathway 

roll 
To baffle our purpose and embitter the soul, 
Hold full faith in the brightness beyond the thick haze — 
'Twill yet fill with sweet sunshine the incoming days, 
While the clouds flee back into the mists of the years 
With their trials and sorrows, their griefs and their 

tears. 



H 



OPING, striving for better things, is but clamber- 
ing heavenward. 

# « * * 

1\ /T Y captain safely pilots me 

O'er the roughest, stormiest sea; 
He guides my craft, with His strong hand. 
Through tempests wild to pleasant land. 



^T^HE winter is gone; green grasses are growing; 

The sweet spring is here and blossoms are blowing. 
The song birds are making, by woodland and lea, 
A world full of music for you and for me. 

19 



T 



O 



O friendship work is a pleasure; and to him, who 
loves, every burden is light. 



TP TP TP 



NE true friend is better than a thousand ''half an'^ 
half." 

# # « # 

A striped catterpiller 
Once climbed upon a tree — 
A tall, slim cotton wilier — 

Up high where he could see. 
There he fixed a place to stay, 
Till summer days were nigh; 
When he flew away one day 
A striped butterfly. 



WHAT others say of us matters little; what we, 
ourselves, say and do, are matters most im- 
portant. 

« « * # 

DON'T trust much to th' paws of a cat; 
Ner to signs of th' moon,— in roofin yer house; 
Ner loosen yer hold on th' tail of a rat 
To grasp th' head of a mouse. 



w 



* * * # 
E learn by doing. 



People, who never do anything, make liberal fault- 
finders, but seldom good critics. 

Competent judgment is a product of experience. 

20 



LET THE SUNSHINE IN. 

Our every-day ills and aches and pains we should learn 
to bear alone ; 

The world has no time to be bothered — it's got troubles 
of it's own. 

To salute our neighbor with the blues isn't just quite 
the thing to do; 

When, perhaps, he's got some vexation that's piercing 
his heart most through. 

Opening our windows tow'rd heaven, and letting the 
sunshine in. 

Will make us more cheerful and happy than we other- 
wise have been. 

A thoughtful charity in our heart will brighten our life 
and face; 

And the smiles and blessings it bequeathes will help fill 
the world with grace. 

•J^ ^r T¥" 

T IFE is not measured by years, but by it's worth 
to humankind. 

•3s" "Tt" TP 

A test of character, is the opportunity to be kind, 
generous and true. 

'rr w ^ 

/^^ LEANLINESS, hopefulness and charity are pearls 
^"^^ of prosperity. 

21 



^ I ^HE message, ringing in our ears, is the one our 

soul imparts; 
And tlie music of the winds is but the music in our 

hearts. 

* * * # 

TTT^HEN God made all the creatures, 

On the land and in the sea, 
He gave to them their likes and tastes — 

The same as you and me. 
He blessed them with that love and fear 

With which our hearts He'd fill; 
He made us all one family here— 

The children of His will. 



^ I ^HE winter, is gone, green grasses are growing, 

And buds and blossoms are swelling and blowing ; 
The song birds, gleeful, are merrily singing 
And the forest with their music is ringing; 
The sweet Spring is building, by woodland and lea, 
A world full of beauty for you and for me. 



^V- ^v- -y- -y- 

W W tP W 



nr^HINK nobly, dear heart, be cheerful and true, 

Helpful and strong; 
Thus making life, and eternity too. 

One grand sweet song. 

22 



VISIT OF THE VALLEY LILY. 

Beautiful messenger of thought! 

Laden with sweet perfume— 
The breath of heaven, angel brought, 

To cheer thy modest bloom. 

How long the years since thee I met! 

Still, neither aged nor worn, 
Thy graceful beauty thou hast yet 

Pure as the dew of morn; 

While 'mongst the moments choice and fair, 

The dearest that I know, 
All cluster 'round old home nooks where 
Thou didst in fragrance grow. 

And how the years have slipped away! 

Yet how their mem'ries cling — 
Old joys flood in to block the way 

'Gainst griefs and tears they bring. 

Old scenes of childhood's happy days 

Break in on burdens now, 
Full fraught with cheer and mirthful ways, 

To soothe the troubled brow. 

Old friendships greet me, eyes to eyes, 

With fervor and delight; 
While yet the tears of death-rent ties 

Are falling as I vn*ite. 

23 



Ah, Messenger ! ' 'tis in the glow 

Of life's fond mem'ries sweet, 
Thou hast a charm which angels know 

The busy .heart to greet. 

I thank thee for the space of thought, 

Amidst the toil and strife ; 
The sober respite thou hast brought 

In the wild rush of life. 

I bless thee for the joys and tears. 

The pleasure and the pain, 
The moments' glimpse back through the years 

Brings swift to me again. 

I love thee for thy tenderness; 

Though fierce the tempests blow 
In stormy seas, thy heart caress 

Doth calm the waters flow. 

When in the vale, where all is dark, 

I rest life's mystery; 
Still may thy cheerful visits mark 

And keep the years with me. 

There, 'neath the shades, where others sleep, 

Our hearts may closer blend; 
"When these heart thoughts I bid thee keep 

And love them to the end. 

24 



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